Dirigible-headlight mechanism



G. S. KECK DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT MECHANI-SM .Filed Nov. '7. 1927 Oct. 22, 1929.

warg/.unl rlllvllllltlllllllilllfllvoYllrilllrlilllilllllll! an' f4 TTORNE Y Patented Get. 22, i929 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE GEORGE S. KECK, OF PASADENA, CALlFORNZ-l., .ASSGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONTROLLED LAMP COMPANY, OF LOS DELAWARE ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF DRIGIBLE-HEADLIGHT MECHAISM Application led November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,629.

This invention relates to dirigible headlight mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism adapted to be mounted upon automobiles ot diii'erent sizes. rThe present device is intended tobe manufactured and soldas a unit or accessory which may be installed upon an automobile. Automobiles of different makes are of ditl'lerent sizes and the steering mechanisms, from which the dirigible headlights are actuated, are difierently arranged. Consequently a headlight unit of fixed dimensions can be mounted only on automobiles of the size and type tor which it is designed. Thus it wouldbe necessary for the manufacturer to provide units of a relatively large number of dimensions, thereby increasing the production costs, and it wouldalso be necessary for the dealer to carry a large stoclrot', headlight units Oi' different dimensions in order to meet all demands. l

@ne object of the invention is to provide supporting and actuating means tor a dirigible headlight of such a character that it may be installed upon automobiles oivarious makes.

A further object oi' the invention is to` provide such a mechanism which Will be simple in its constructiomof a strong durable character, and in which the parts may be so arranged andl connected one 'to the other that theywill `not become loose and rattle because of wear. A further object of the invention is to provide such a supporting structure with means for maintaining at all times a snug bearing contact between the lamp spindle and its bearing.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for connecting the lamp spindle with the lamp casing. y

Other objects of theinvention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanyingdrawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly insection, of a headlight unit embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 9, of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a section talrenon the line lim-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. et a section teiten on the line 4--41 ot Fig.' 1.. H Y

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment. of my invention and have shown the same as designed tor use in connection. with a single headlight but it will be understood that the apparatus may take various forms and may be utilized with one or a plurality ot lamps, without departing trom the spirit of the invention.

In that embodiment of the invention here illustrated ,the supporting structure as a whole is indicated by the reference numeral 5. It comprises a central housing 6 to which is rigidly secured a laterally extending member 7 which is preferably tubular in form and is adapted to be mounted on the :trame of an automobile. In the present instance, the supporting structure is preferably mounted on both trame members of the automobile and I have therefore shown a Second laterally extending member 8 secured to the housing 6 and adapted to be mounted on the other trame member. The laterally extending men'ibers 7 and 8 may be secured to the housing `in various ways but I prefer to provide thehousing Withlatcrally extending hollow bosses 9 into which the inner ends of the two members, 'l' and 8, are screw threaded. The laterally extending members oi' the supporting structure may be mounted on the iframe members in any suitable manner and, as here shown, they are mounted in the upper ends otstandards l0 adapted to be secured to the respect-ive 'trame members and, as here shown,

provided with transverse openings to receive the respective members oi the supporting structure. The lateral members ot the supaortino' `structure maw' extend through the a tra openings inthe standards varying distances,

thus' permitting a supporting structure of iixed length to be mounted on any automobile the trame members of which are spaced apart a distance not greater than the length of the supporting structure. Preferably the upper portions et the standards are in the form ot splitsleeves l1 which may be clamped tightly about `the members oi" the supporting structure in any position which the latter may occupy with relation to the standards.

Tine headlight proper, or lamp, `l?. is carried by a spindle i3 which is jeurnaled in vertical vbearings in the housing 6, The spindle may be secured to the lamp casing in any suitable manner but as here shown, l have provided a connecting member 14 adapted to tit about and be rigidly secured to the lower portion ot. the lvainp casing, This connecting member hes a thielened portion, or upwardly extending boss, 15 extending Yinto the lamp casing through an openingv in the wall thereof and this lthiol-tened portion has al screw threaded opening to receive the screw threaded Lipper end 16 of the spindle 513. A set screw 17 extends throughhthe thick'- ened portion or boss 1.5 of the connecting member and engages the screwthreaded portia-li. at the spindle SQ as to. hol-.d the lamp in adjusted 'positions with relation to the 'd el It desir-eti, locking mit 1.8 i.,e 'threaded onto, the part 1.6 of the s iidl. .below the connecting member' and steered' iqtoiiii @agrement with the @ii-iimovement, awa-shelf 19 being. interposed between the lacking mit andthe Connecting meinbeiylf tlesifll i i Thespindle is iournaled in suitable beariiss'iifli@ iiniierfarjid' lewerpoitioris 0f the 'hoiisingv and 'tllQSe` hearings are preferably adinstable to ooinpfensiate for. wear and maintain a iii-aref bearing @estati between the Saaie auditif-Mistassini 'time @f iii@ Spindle.

. lilith@ Present Histamin, 'tie spindle lias'risidly Isecured thereto withini'tlie housing na eai 2012 fofr connecting thesaiiie with actuaiiiisiiiifhaiiiii; is vili. hereinafter appear This." ssa-i ari. 'eloiieatd tapered hub 21 Wliiclifens tiitY a beating' portion or tiiiii'- y nien for the spindle and'isseate'd in a tapered bearing opening' in, a Per-'t of 'the iivisiiis- Preferably the bearing opening for the hub 941 iS tanned iin a @an @il mit 22 which is screw threads-.disions iiiiiii Partien 0f. the 11,011.5? i156" and 'has' 'it-S outer portieri 23 shape-d t0 i if@ wrench. at other iiiiiiliiieiit forrotat-ins the Sain@- 'Thiis the' livin may be adiusted with relation to the bearing poriiQii 0.1" iiiriiai 2l at 4the Spindle .slid it may 4be lield'ii'it adjusted Position iii ini? suitable mannenas by Ricans of `a` 'set sereni 24.

The lowerjend of the spindle is, taperedas 'siiiiiifii iit 25 and is seiitfdiia .tapered recess.

in aA plug or hearingfinemher y2,6 which is .screw'.throa'ledl inti' the lower wall of the farei' a S" 2.8.. te i515 i@ ffii@ @reif-ih iiili ieiiifi-k atteint-iii ...sienta-y movement to the headlight is mounted on the tubular member 7 of the supporting structure and preferably comprises two parts which are longitudinally adjustable with relation one to the other and may be rigidly connected one to the other in their adjusted positions, thllS labling the length of the actuating dcvice to be adjusted to accommodate it to automobiles 0f different makes- AS. here Shown, this actuating device comprises an inner portion oi shaft 29 journaled in a bearingt) in the housing 6. rlhe inner end of this shaft 29 extends into the housing and has secured thereto a gear 3,1l which meshes with the gear 2O on the spindle; The hub of the gear 31 bears against the inner face of the bearing 30 and thus holds the shaft against ontward moveinent,4 The actuating deijice further comprises a tubular portion 32 which is rigid with the shaft l29. In the present instance, this tnbulr portion is lsepara-te from the ShLtt'QQ, and is mounted thereon and rigidly securedl thereto, asby means of a riyet 33. The tubular portion 32 of t-he actuating device is,` jonrnaledl in a hearing 3i Within the tubularmember 7 of the suaporting structurethis bearing preferably having its outer end flush with the outer end nf. said tnbular member. The tubular portion 32,"of the actnating device also extends beyond the bearlligw and the tnbular member 7 lfor a rela.- tifelr Sliit distante'- .Slidably mounted in the tubular porti`on^32 4of. the atuating devie isr an adjustable portion or onter shaft ofthe actuating device which may-be adjusted to any desired position with relation to the tubular portion 3,2 and then rigidly secured thereto in order to iripart to the actuating. device a length suitab o to the particular automobile on which the appara/tus is being installed. Preferably a collar 3,6V is mounted o n that portion of t-hc tubular member 32 which extends beyond the supn porting structure and bears against the end of the' supporting member and the bearing 34 to hold the tubular member 32 agninst lengthwise movement in an inward direction, that member being held against outward movement by the hub of the gear 31.. The outer shaft 35 of the atiiiiiiiis device may be Secured to the nibularI member A32 thereof in any suitable manner, as by inserting a pin 37 through the two parte.l In the present instance, this pin also entends through the collar 36 S40 that the three parts gire rigidly connected one to the other: It is fiat pliitticaita Pivig'id@ .the Outer shaft with an opening for. the pin 37 prior ta installaties, bestias-ath@ position of that gpiin, will Vary iiidiffer'nt installations. Q facilitate the. drilling af.- tli@ hole for the ein .37 in. the desired. position dai-ius the instllatioii Qt- .ihsi apparatus I Provide means fat eiiinoraiiy Securing dier/@liar 36, .the tubular member @and the guter shaft one to the other and holding them in their adjusted positions during the drilling of the hole, this means preferably comprising a set screw 38 screw threaded into the collar 3G and extending through the tubular member 32 into engagement with the shaft 35. In the installation of the apparatus the shaftis adjusted to its desired position and locked in that position by the set screw 38 and the hole 37 then drilled. The pin holes through the collar 8G and tubular member 32 may be formed prior to installation as they will al* ways occupy the same positions and it would then only be necessary to drill the hole through the shaft and insert the pin 37. When this pin is driven into place the several parts will be very rigidly connected one to the other and a strong driving connection provided between the shaft 35 and the tubular part 32 of the actuating device. The shaft 35 may be connected with operating mechanism, such as the steering mechanisml ot' the automobile, in any suitable manner, as by means of a crank arm 39.

iVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereo'tl asl various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure tor a hea-dlightcomprising a transverse member having between its ends means for rotatably supporting a headlight thereon and having that part thereof on one side of said headlight supporting means tubular in form, an actuating device rotatably mounted in the tubular part 'if said transverse member and comprisn ing telescoping parts, one of which has at its inner end means for operatively connecting the same with said headlight, the other of said parts extending beyond the outer end ot' said tubular part of said transverse member, means for rigidly connecting one oi said telescoping parts to the other in an adjusted position, and means for connecting that part of said actuating device which extends beyond the outer end of said tubular part of said transverse member' with operating mechanism.

2. In an apparat-us ot the character described. comprising a supporting structure for a headlight having a tubular member, an actuating device rotatably mounted in said tubular member and comprising two parts one ot which .is held against longitudinal movement and extends beyond the outer end of said tubular member, and the other of which extends lengthwise of and is slidably mounted on the first mentioned part and extends beyond the outer end thereof, and means for rigidly securing the last mentioned part to the iirst mentioned part in an adjusted position with relation thereto.

3. In an apparatus ot the character described comprising a supporting structure for a headlight having a tubular member, an actuating device con'iprising a tubular part rotatably mounted in said tubular member and extending beyond the end thereof, and a second part slidably mounted in said tubniar part and extending beyond the end thereot, and means mounted beyond the end of said tubular member for rigidly securing the last mentioned part to said tubular part in an adjusted position with relation thereto.

4,. In an apparatus ot the character described comprising a supporting structure for a headlight having a tubular member, an actuating device comprising a tubular part rotatably mounted in said tubular member and extending beyond the end thereof, and a second part slidably mounted in said tubular part and extending beyond the end thereof, means for temporarily securing the last mentioned part to the first mentioned part in an adjusted position with relation thereto, and other means for permanently connecting` said parts while they are held by said temporary securin means.

`5. In an apparatus of the character de scribed comprising a supporting structure `tor a headlight having a tubular member, an actuating device comprising a tubular part rotatably mounted in the tubular member oi' said structure and extending beyond the end thereof, a collar secured to the projecting end of said tubular part and engaging the adjacent end of the tubular member ot said structure, a shaft slidably mounted in the tubular part of said actuating device, and means for rigidly securing said shaft to said tubular part in adjusted positions with relation thereto.

6. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a supporting structure ior a headlight having a tubular member and having bearings at the respective ends ot' said tubular member, an actuating device comprising a part journaled in said bearings and having` a tubular portion which extends be yond the outer end oil said tubular member, a collar secured to the projecting end ot said tubular portion of said actuating device and engaging the adjacent end of said tubular member, a shaft slidably mounted in said tubular portion of said actuatin device, and means lfor rigidly securing said shaft to the projecting portion ot said tubular portion oit said actuating device in a longitudinally adjusted position with relation thereto.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a supporting structure ior a headlight having a tubular member and. having bearings at the respective ends et said tubular member, a shaft journaled in the bearing at the inner end ot said. tubular ineinich ber, af tubular shaft rigidly secured to the;

o at theinner end of said tubular member, a

sha-ft journaled in said bearingand-extending into saidtubular` member, azgear secured to said shaft` within said housing to hold the shaft against; lengthwise movement in one direction, atubular shaft securedr tothe outer.r end of the first mentioned shaft, and journaled in theibearing at the outer end of saidtubular memberl and projecting beyond said tubular member, a shaft mounted in saidtubular shaft for adjustment lengthwise thereof and extending beyondy the end of said tubular shaft, a collar mounted on the end of said tubular shaft and arranged to engage the end ofA said tubular member, and; means for rigidly securing saidk collar, said tubular shaft and saidY adjustable shaft one to the other.

9; In. an. apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure comprising a housingA and a tubular member, any actuating device rotatably mounted in said tubular member and comprising two parts one of which is longitudinally adjustable with relation to the other, means arranged exteriorly of said tubular member for rigidly connecti-ng the two parts of said actuating device one to the other in adjusted positions, a

'spindle rotatably mounted in said housing,

means for operatively connecting said spindle with. said actuating device, saidhousing having bearings for said spindle and said bearings being,y adjustable to compensate for wear, and, a` headlight rigidly connected with said spindle. Y

10. In anx apparatus of the character described, comprising a supporting structure having a; housing, a bearing mounted in said housing and having an inwardly facing shoulder, abea-ring member adjustably mounted in said housing spaced from said bearing and havinga4 bearingrecess, a spindle mounted insaid bearing, having a part toengage said shoulder, and having one end seated in the tapered recess in said adjustable bearing. member, said spindle adapted to have a headlight secured thereto.

1.1. In an. apparatus of the character described comprising a supporting structure for a headlight having a housing, a nut threaded into the upper part of said-housing and having a taperedv bearing opening, a

plug screw threaded into the lower part of said housing and having a tapered bearing recess, a spindle hav-ing a tapered lower end seated in said bearing recess andy having a tapered bearing portion mounted in the tapered opening of said nut, andmeans for connecting said spindle with a headlight.

12. In an apparatus of the character dcscribed comprising a supporting structure having a housing and a laterally extending tubular member, an extensible actuatingl device rotatably mounted in said tubular member and extending into said housing, a gear secured. to said actuating device within said housing, a bearingl at the lower end ofsaid housing, a nut screw threaded into the upper portion of said housing and having a tapered bearing opening, a spindle seated inthe first mentioned bearing,4 a gear rigidly secured to saidspiiidle, meshing with the irst mentioned gear and. having a tapered hubvportion journaled in the opening in said nut, and means for. securing said spindle to a headlight.

13. In an apparatus ofl the character described comprising a supporting structure having a housing and a headlight supported by said housing, an axially adjustable bearing member mounted in the lower part of said housing and having a bearing recess, a nut screw threaded into the upper part of said housing and having a tapered bearing opening, a spindle having an end portion mounted in said recess and having aA tapered bearing surface journaled in the bearing opening of` said nut, said spindle having a screw threaded portion extending beyond said nut, a connecting` member adapted to be rigidly secured to a lamp casing and having a thickened portion provided with a screw threaded opening to receive the threaded end of said spindle, and a lock nut mounted on the threaded portion of said spindle and adapted to lock and. said headlight against movement withy relation to said spindle.

In testimony whereof, I aiiiir my signature hereto.

GEORGE S. KECK. 

